Swing bolt action rifle



Feb. 14, 1939. E. L. AHERN 2,147,185

SWING BOLT ACTION RIFLE Filed Oct. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, E RN 2,147,185

SWING BOLT ACTION RIFLE Filed Oct. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X5 za w ly /6' Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application October 7,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a rifle and it aims to provide a novel construction having a breech closing bolt and a cooperating swinging cradle therefor, to the end, that the rifle is adapted to fire cartridges of any practical length and from 22 calibre up; a rifle wherein the bolt travel is materially shortened to enable a heavier or longer barrel to be used without increasing the weight of the rifle, and a rifle wherein the receiver is streamlined to exclude the entrance of grass, leaves, twigs, coarse sand or equivalent foreign matter.

The more specific objects and advantages will p become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a rifle showing my improvement in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a substantially central longitudinal sectional view through the parts of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the parts of Figure 1 with the cradle in closed position;

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3 but with the cradle and bolt in open position;

Figure 5 is a substantially central horizontal longitudinal sectional view through the receiver, looking downwardly;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the bolt;

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the cradle;

Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the inte-' rior of the cradle;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the bolt sleeve;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the bolt sleeve;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the extractor;

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the extractor; and

Figure 13 is an end elevation of the extractor.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, l0 designates the barrel of the rifle which is screwed or otherwise secured at the breech end to a receiver I I.

The bolt is generally designated l2 and is slidably and rotatably mounted in the receiver. This breech closing bolt l2 carries a slidable firing pin l3 and an associated striker M in direct engagement with the projectile, and I 5 designates the main spring associated with the firing pin. Such firing pin, striker and main spring are of the usual or conventional construction in bolt action rifles, for instance in the United States Army model rifle of 1903.

At the breech end, the bolt l2 carries the usual diametrically opposite lugs l6 and ll whose movement is accommodated in grooves or slots in the receiver as at It and I9.

A bolt sleeve is provided at 20, functioning as 60 usual, having the pin 2| slidably mounted in a 1937, Serial No. 167,828

slot 22 in the receiver H to accommodate sliding movement of the sleeve asthe bolt- I2 is moved forward. A safety latch 23is pivoted as at 24, as iisuaL-to coact withnotch or groove 25 in the sleeve.

The said breech closing bolt I! has a laterally extending handle 26 and also has a third lug as'at 21; The bolt handle 26, in the operation of the rifle, is adapted-to be'raised and drawn to the rear as iii all Mauser type rifles to permit the removal of afired shell and the insertion of a cartridge, following which the bolt is closed by reversing the movement traced. In addition the receiver H- according to the'present invention is partly cut away'and replaced by a cradle as detailed in Figures 7 and 8, designated 28, being pivotally mounted at- 2 9 longitudinally of and on the receiver l I. 1

In the interior arcuate wall of the cradle 28, a longitudinal groove or slot 30 is provided and also a slot 3| is provided having a cam portion 3-2 and a straight portion 33 parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bolt; Said lug 27 is disposed and operates in the'slot or groove 31' while the lug 16', although normally disengaged with thegroove 30, engages such groove in the rearmo st position of the belt I I. Thus,- in accordance with my invention, grooves are provided in the cradle which coact with lugs of the bolt, so that when the bolt is turned or swung upwardly, lug 21 will becaimri'ed in the slot 32 following which the bolt is moved rearwardly' to the extent permitted'by thes'traiglit portion 33, lug l6 entering slot 30, and thereupon the bolt in its rearmost position-is swung downwardly by means of the handle to open position as in Figure 4, facilitating the ejection of the shell and reloading.

An extractor for the fired shell is shown at 34, being detailed in Figures 11 to 13. This extractor is slidably mounted for movement longitudinally with the bolt, having ribs 35 disposed in grooves 36, forming enlargement of a groove or clearance at '31- in the receiver, which permits movement of the lug I1 and the extractor. Said extractor has a groove or notch 31 for engagement with the rim flange of the projectile or cartridge. The extractor is' held frictionally in any position to which it is moved by the bolt to which end, the receiver has a pair of plates 39 and 40, the latter being in contact with the extractor, and an expansive bow'spring' il being disposed between the plates tdp'rovid'e thenecessary frictional contact between plate 40 and the extractor.

.In order to" move the extractor rearwardly, when the bolt' is moved'longitudinally, such bolt is provided witha"r'ib'4'2 of'arcu'a'te form at the forward or breech end which is adapted to engage and disengage the slot 38, partly filling the same, returning movement of the bolt. The rib 42 is normally engaged in such groove 38 and hence when the bolt moves longitudinally, the extractor moves therewith. However when the bolt is moved bodily or out of alignment with the barrel, as in Figure 4, said rib 42 disengages the slot 38, thus disengaging the extractor.

The trigger for the firing pin is shown at 43 pivoted at 44 as usual to the receiver, coacting with a sear 45 and otherwise with parts or cooking mechanism, forming no part of the invention specifically, in conforming to that of the United States Army rifle, model of 1903, as previously referred to.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and rotatably mounting the bolt and having a portion of its wall cut away, lug means on the bolt coacting with the receiver, a laterally movable cradle constituting portion of the wall of the receiver and normally occupying said cutaway portion, said cradle beingarcuate in cross section, said cradle and coacting portion of the receiver being separableon a line extending longitudinally of the receiver, and intersecting the bore of the receiver so that a, shell may be applied or removed therethroughwhen the cradle is open, said cradle being groove-d and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle. ,j; j 7

2. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and rotatably mounting the bolt and having a portion of its wall cut away, lug means on the bolt coacting w'th the receiver, a laterally movable cradle constituting a portion of the wall of the receiver and normally occupying said cutaway portion, said cradle being arcuate in cross section, said cradle and coacting portion of the receiver being separable on a line extending longitudinally of the receiver, and intersecting the bore of the receiver so that a shell maybe applied or removed therethrough when the cradle is open, said cradle being grooved and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle, a groove of said cradle having a cam portion whereby it cooperates with a lug to rotate the bolt, and means pivoting the cradle to the receiver.

3. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and rotatably mounting the bolt and having a portion of its wall cut away, lug means on the bolt coacting with the receiver, a laterally movable cradle constituting a portion of the wall of the receiver and normally occupying said cutaway portion, said cradle being arcuate in cross section, said cradle and coacting portion of the receiver being separable on a line extending longitudinally of the receiver, and intersecting the bore of the receiver so that a shell may be applied or removed therethrough when the cradle is open, said cradle being grooved and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle, a groove of said cradle having a cam portion whereby it'cooperates with a lug to rotate the bolt, means pivoting the cradle to the receiver, an extractor in the breech, and a separable connection between the bolt and extractor to move the extractor longitudinally with the bolt and to disengage the extractor through turning of the bolt.

4. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and rotatably mounting the bolt, lug means on the bolt coacting with the receiver, a laterally movable cradle in a portion of the receiver, said cradle being arcuate in cross section, said cradle and coacting portion of the receiver being separable on a line extending longitudinally of the receiver, and intersecting the bore of the receiver so that a shell may be applied or removed therethrough when the cradle is open, said cradle being grooved and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle, a groove of said cradle having a cam portion whereby it cooperates with a lug to rotate the bolt, means pivoting the cradle to the receiver, an extractor in the breech, a separable connection between the bolt and extractor to move the extractor longitudinally with the bolt and to disengage the extractor through turning of the bolt and means maintaining the extractor in frictional contact with the bolt during longitudinal movement of the bolt.

5. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and rotatably mounting the bolt and having a portion of its wall cut away, lug means on the bolt coacting with the receiver, a laterally movable cradle constituting a portion of the wall of the receiver and normally occupying said cutaway portion, said cradle being arcuate in cross section, said cradle and coacting portion of the receiver being separable on a line extending longitudinally of the receiver, and intersecting the bore of the receiver so that a shell may be applied or removed therethrough when the cradle is open, said cradle being grooved and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle,;a groove of said cradle having a cam portion whereby it cooperates with a lug to rotate the bolt, and means pivoting the cradle to the receiver, said bolt having an arcuate rib at the breech end, and the extractor having a groove engageable by said rib.

'6. A rifle of the class described having a bolt containing firing means for a cartridge, a receiver slidably and, rotatably mounting the bolt and having a portion of its wall cut away, lug means on the bolt coacting with the receiver, a laterally movable cradle constituting a portion of the wall of the receiver and normally occupying said cutaway portion, said cradle being grooved and engageable by certain of the lug means whereby the bolt disengages the receiver and is movable laterally with the cradle, a groove of said cradle having a cam portion whereby it cooperates with a lug to rotate the bolt, and means pivoting the cradle to the receiver, a pair of plates mounted on the receiver, one of the plates contacting with the extractor, and expansive spring means between the plates maintaining said one plate in frictional contact with the other.

W EDMUND L. AHERN. 

